The "for her kids" things would grate regardless, but the fact that TJ and Doug are adults (they're...what...late 20s? Mid-20s at the youngest) as opposed to kids or even teenagers. I sympathize a lot with TJ and understand why he does the things he does, but Grandma Ellen Burstyn called it: He's an adult. What he does now, the choices he makes, are entirely on him, just like it's up to Doug whether or not he becomes a younger version of his father. Bud and Elaine may not have been the best parents ever, but setting aside ambition at this point won't make much difference. (Actually, I think it would be WORSE for TJ if she passed on running for president because of him.)

I wouldn't have minded Elaine accepting the president's offer if it hadn't been obvious they were about to kill him off. It may have been easier, but it also would have been smart and secured her nomination after his second term because then he would have been behind her, not the VP. So I get it, even though I still wish she'd gone the less sure route and stuck to her guns.

Regardless, I really do hope they give a second season the go ahead. Ciaran Hinds is going to be in Game of Thrones next season, which worries me a bit on that front, but hopefully it won't take up TOO much of his time. (And if the second Political Animals season is also short, maybe there won't be filming conflicts.)